News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

November 30, 2008

As expected, lots of injuries for the 49ers. Arnaz Battle (foot), Josh Morgan (groin) and Allen Rossum (ankle) are all on the inactive list, which raises issues at receiver and returner. Earlier in the week, Mike Singletary said he didn't want to use Nate Clements as a punt returner. I would be shocked, however, if he wasn't handling punts.Could he really rely on Dominique Zeigler to do it, especially in bad weather?

For the Bills (who are nattily dressed in their throwbacks), Ryan Denney will start at defensive end for Aaron Schobel; Bryan Scott will start at safety for Donte Whitner and rookie Leodis McKelvin will start at cornerback for Jabari Greer.

Also, TE Jonathan Stupar has been added to the active roster and DT John McCargo has been placed on injured reserve.

49ers 7, Bills 0

Lots of runs by Frank Gore on the drive, which gives Shaun Hill plenty of time to throw. He hits Bryant Johnson, Jason Hill and Issac Bruce on the drive before tossing an 12-yard TD to Bruce, who abused rookie CB Leodis McKelvin on the play. Good start for Hill and for Mike Martz, who runs Gore nine times on the play, including the first five plays of the game.

Bills punt on 4th and 5 from 49ers 45. Good, not great, pressure on Trent Edwards, who converts two first downs on the drive. As expected, Nate Clements is back to take the punt, which rolls out of bounds at the 23....

49ers get one first down off an illegal contact call. But on third and 8, Shaun Hill's completion to Jason Hill is a yard short. Punt goes to the 13 ...

The Bills blow an excellent chance at a score when a 20-yard Ryan Lindell field goal boinks off the left upright. Buffalo had driven all the way gto the 2 yard line. but on second down, Kentwan Balmer got a nice pass rush and tipped Edwards' pass. on third and goal, Patrick Willis -- who is all over the field -- flushed Edwards and he had to throw it away ..

Nice defensive stand by the 49ers. Rod Green hits Edwards as he throws on third down and the pass skips incomplete. The Bills have to punt from their own 18 and it's another bad punt. 49ers' ball at the Bills 47 with 2:39 to go. 49ers have 2 time outs remaining...

49ers face a 3rd and five ... Hill's pass is perfect 20 yards down field to Zeigler, but Zeigler drops it. Punt

49ers get another break. Marshawn Lynch fumbles at his own 41 after Willis (who else?) strips him. Mark Roman recovers with 34 seconds left and two timeouts. ... Facing third and 4, Hill puts his head down and runs but he only picks up two yards. 49ers call timeout on fourth and two from the 33 with 16 second... Jose Nedney's 50-yard field goal is good by mere inches ... 49ers 10, Bills 0

Nedney's kickoff hits one of the Bill upmen and goes only to the SF 48 with nine seconds left ... Edwards is rushed and throwns the ball away on first down; Scond down pass is complete to Josh Reed but time expires.... Bills are booed as they go into the locker room...

2nd Half

Bills' quarterback Trent Edwards is out with a groin injury; J.P. losman is now in. Edwards was 10-21 for 112 yards in the first half. Shaun Hill was 9 of 15 for 109 yards and a 104.6 passer rating.

After a holding penalty, Bills are facing a 3rd and 21 on third down. Bills gain 12 but decide to punt from the SF 35 ...

On next Bills possession, Lynch cracks off a 50-yard run all the way to the SF nine, Lynch's longest run of the season... Now third and goal from the four -- Losman's pass to Roscoe Parrish broken up by Donald Strickland. Buffalo's 22-yard field goal attempt is good. 49ers 10, Bills 3

After a review, officials rule that Gore was not down by contact when he fumbled at the Buffalo 20. Gore lost the ball when he hit the turf, but according to the officials he tripped over his own man and was not forced down by a Bills defender.

4th Q
Well, Mike Singletary wants his 49ers to be a smash-mouth team. This final quarter will be just that with the 49ers holding on to a 10-3 lead but the Bills driving ...

... 49ers stuff Bills on third and one from the six, then knock J.P. Losman down on fourth down ... But Shaun Hill is sacked and fumbles deep in his own territory on the nesuing possession. The 49ers punt, the Bills get a big return from Parrish and then an unnecessary roughness call on Keith Lewis. Suddenly they are on the 49ers' 25-yard line.

Lightning strikes twice in the rain in Buffalo. Ryan Lindell bonks off the left upright for the second time today, this time from 40 yards out. 49ers take over on their 30 ...

Another good punt by Lee; the Bills have to go 81 yards in 1:47 in order to send the game into overtime. they have 0 time outs ...Losman's fourth and 15 pass only gains one yard ... Game over ...

MATTHEW BARROWS

Matt was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green.